Storm of 2017
On 16 September 2017, Collingwood Primary School was severely damaged in a freak storm which ripped off the asbestos roof of four upstairs classrooms. The roofs of both the boys’ and girls’ toilets as well as the upstairs computer room in the second block, the shade cloth covering our assembly point and the grade R jungle gym equipment were all destroyed by flying debris.
Heavy rains and strong winds caused further damage to the classrooms below. A total of 12 classrooms were damaged. The Department of Education closed the school on 18 September 2017 as it was an unsafe environment for learners and educators.
Whilst contingency plans were being facilitated to repair the school and remove the asbestos debris, the school was struck by a second more violent storm (October 2017) which tore off the roofs of the classrooms in the second block. Trees which fell during the storm, crashed into windows causing further damage. What was left of the shaded assembly area damaged by the first storm was totally destroyed. The toilets were severely damaged.
The Department of Education deemed the school a disaster area and closed it to learners until further notice. The school illicited the free services of a structural engineer and architect who found that the school did not meet the minimum requirements for occupancy.
Our learners were then housed in church halls and community buildings for the 4th term of 2017. Unfortunately, the grade 1 and 2 learners could not attend school in the 4th term. These were difficult and challenging times. Fortunately, the Administration Block was not damaged.
In 2018 the Department of Education erected 24 mobile classrooms on the school’s sports field. We needed an additional 4 mobile classrooms for the grade 6 learners. In the interim these grade 6 learners (160 learners) were housed in the church across the road from the school. The school had to pay the church rent for occupation of their premises. Four months later the Department of Education provided the 4 much needed mobile classrooms for these learners. Two more mobiles were donated by Bidvest; the Department of Education also erected mobile toilets, twelve for the girls and nine for the boys. Mondi donated one more set of toilets.
The mobile classrooms were erected but without electricity. Engen sponsored the installation of electricity to the classrooms. We also had to pave the area around the
classrooms/walkways which were sandy and messy. Corobrik came to our rescue and sponsored the pavers.
It’s 2022 and we are still being housed in the now aging and leaking/rusting mobile classrooms.